Story: Manasseh Azure Awuni, Denu

The youth of the Volta Region have been asked to take their studies seriously in order to benefit from the University of Health and Allied Sciences about to be established in the region since access into the university, like any other university in the country, will be based on merit.

Speaking at a durbar organized for final year senior high school students in the Ketu South and Ketu North Districts of the region, a native of Ketu, Mr. Raphael Alorwu, challenged students of the region to take their studies seriously because natural resources and other opportunities in the region were very limited.

The students durbar was held to give a sense of direction and mentorship to final year students in the two districts. It was organized by Ketu Students in the Ghana Institute of Journalism and sponsored by Mr. Raphael Alorwu, a native of Ketu South District.
Selected students from the various tertiary institutions, as well as natives of Ketu in academia, and officials of the Ghana Education Service were all present to address the students on various issues. Mr. Raphael Alorwu, who is also the Atebubu District Director of the National National Service Scheme, said he decided to sponsor the programme due to the falling standard of education in Ketu.
“Records available show that the standard of education in Ketu is going down and this is a grave concern to all well-meaning citizens of Ketu,” he told the students. “I am aware of the challenges some of you face in terms of infrastructure and staff capacities, but if you make good use of what you have, you can compete favourably with your counterparts from the well-endowed schools.”
Mr. Raphael Alorwu, advised the students to learn hard and prepare well for the forthcoming West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) instead of resorting to unorthodox means of passing examinations.
“These days it is very common for students to resort to all forms of examination malpractices. You have to learn hard and desist from examination malpractices because your four years’ stay in school may be in vain if you’re caught cheating in examination,” he said.
Mr. Alorwu said he would continue to support initiatives that were aimed at raising the standard of education in Ketu, since education was the surest way of empowering the future generation of the area.
The Ketu North District Director of Education, Mr. F.K.J. Tsevia, who spoke passionately about the rising spate indiscipline among students, observed that there were greater opportunities for excellence in education in recent times. He therefore called on the students to shun all practice and lifestyles that do not engender learning.
For her part, the Ketu South District Girls Education Officer, Mrs. Kate Mikado, advised the students to stay away from immoral relationships because such acts could jeopardize their future.
Describing the programme as an enormous success, the organizer of the programme, Mr. Noel Nutsugah, expressed his profound gratitude to Mr. Raphael Alorwu, for single-handedly sponsoring the programme and called on other citizens of the area to come on board.
“Many students go wayward because they do not know the prospects and challenges ahead of them. I believe such an interaction with their seniors in the tertiary institutions and influential people in the area will spur them on to take their education seriously,” he said.
Some of the students who participated in the programme said they were highly motivated by the programme.
Ms. Yakanu Vivian of the Dzodze Fenyi Senior High School said she was greatly inspired by listening to speakers. “I have also learnt something new,” she said excitedly.
“Until today, I didn’t know that Business students can also be admitted to read journalism. This means my dream of becoming a journalist is still alive and I’ll work hard and achieve it.”
Another final student of the St. Paul’s Senior High School, Master Bright Sosu, described the programme as “really educative and very fruitful.
“I learnt much about determination, perseverance and not giving up. I have learnt that I can make it in life irrespective of where I am. I’m well motivated and encouraged for the examination ahead of me,” he said.
Prizes were awarded to outstanding final year students from participating schools.